Online training and racing platform Zwift has agreed a deal to sponsor the Giro d’Italia cycling race.
Zwift agreed the deal with RCS Sport, organiser of the Giro, which this year runs from May 11 to June 2. The length of the deal was not disclosed but it will initially cover the 2019 race.
As part of the deal, the Giro’s 8.2km Stage 1 course in Bologna will launch on Zwift, giving users a virtual-reality experience of the race.
The Bologna course will launch in conjunction with a celebratory series of time trial races held on Zwift for the duration of the Giro.
Users who take part in an event on the Bologna course within the first three days of launch will be given the chance to win a Maglia Rosa (pink jersey), signed by the winner of the race.
The Giro and Zwift will also host a special exhibition event tomorrow from the Circolo Unificato dell’Esercito di Bologna.
The event will feature a range of teams that will take to the Zwift Bologna Course to set a benchmark time in two separate races. Zwift users will then be able to compare their times to the professionals’.